“Every moment is a fresh beginning.” – T.S. Eliot (Poet and Essayist) Happy New Year! I often remind our students that we are blessed with the new beginnings provided to us during a school year. This often comes each year in August and again in January. We have enjoyed the opportunity to rest and rejuvenate over the holidays, allowing us the break we needed to begin the second half of our year. This is a wonderful time to talk with your daughter about creating new short-term goals, revisiting daily habits (especially around sleeping, eating nutritious meals and snacks, drinking water, setting technology limits, etc), and planning for the next few months before summer. As always, I am here to support your daughters and your families during this exciting time of Middle School. Never hesitate to reach out!
CHADS Coalition for Mental Health Returns to Viz Classroom Lessons Our sixth grade students will be learning about stress, anxiety, and healthy coping strategies in their upcoming third-quarter counseling lesson. In Girl Talk,
CHADS Coalition for Mental Health (Communities Healing Adolescent Depression and Suicide) will return in the second semester to meet again with our Middle School students. CHADS will return to
Peer-2-Peer Tutoring Peer-2-Peer tutoring continues to be available for all Viz Middle and Upper School students! The second semester is an excellent time to join. This program aims to
the sixth graders and their
conduct grade-level EYES
provide a productive and
Upper School mentors continue to focus on
Presentations (Every Year Every Student) following the
positive learning experience in which one girl is the tutor, and
communication and friendship, while also including wellness
Signs of Suicide (SOS) presentation they conducted in the fall. Each grade level presentation will focus on a specific topic through the EYES Presentations titled: Bully Free (Grade 6), Peer Pressure (Grade 7), and SelfInjury (Grade 8).
the other is the student. Tutors gain leadership skills while
discuss various topics, including the roles that
Dates are currently being determined and more
Students can access more information by logging into the
females play in friendships, empathy, and conflict
information will be provided to parents/guardians soon.
Viz Portal, clicking on the Resources tab, and then
and healthy class resolutions for the new year. The seventh graders will initially focus on stress, anxiety, and healthy coping strategies to kick off the new year. We will then continue to
using their academic knowledge in a subject area to support a fellow student. Students in this program will gain one-on-one attention and positive reinforcement from their peer tutor.
resolution.
clicking on the Peer-2-Peer image on the right side of the
Owning Up for eighth graders began in 2024 by discussing
MS News Resource Board. This site allows students to
anxiety, thinking traps, and healthy coping strategies. In
select from a list of tutors based on grade level, subject
the second semester, we will continue to focus on the role
matter, and availability. Please note: only those with a Viz
of media and advertising on female self-esteem, societal
email address can access this site. Parents/Guardians, please
norms placed on females, and healthy versus unhealthy body
work alongside your student to find a peer tutor match, and do
image. This curriculum will conclude with eating disorders
not hesitate to reach out if I can assist further.
and a media communication lesson.
UPCOMING DATES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS Girl Talk (Sixth Grade) – January date TBD (due to snow day) and February 20 Sixth Grade Quarterly Counseling Lesson – January 18-19 Owning Up (Seventh Grade) – January 29-30 and February 13-15 and February 26-27 Owning Up (Eighth Grade) – January 10-11 and February 7-8
SAVE THE DATE: MS Student Led Conferences Parents/Guardians are invited to attend (in-person and/or via Zoom) on the following dates: · Sixth Grade – Tuesday, April 9 · Seventh Grade – Thursday, April 11 · Eighth Grade – Friday, April 12 More details are to come, including a link to register.
UPCOMING VIRTUAL SEMINAR OPPORTUNITY NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) in St. Louis will be hosting a free, two-hour seminar that helps inform families and friends who have loved ones with a mental health condition. The purpose of this seminar is to provide participants with ways to provide support as well as an opportunity to meet others in a similar situation. This Family and Friends seminar is offered monthly. The next available opportunity is Wednesday, January 31. For more information and a link to register: https://www.namistl.org/support-and-education/presentations/family-and-friends/.
CHECK IT OUT - RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES Podcast – International Coalition of Girls’ Schools Podcast titled “On Educating Girls: Creating a World of Possibilities.” https://girlsschools.org/advocacy/podcast/ Podcast – Children’s Health Council Podcast titled “Voices of Compassion: Insight, Inspiration, and Creative Conversations About Mental Health, Education, and Parenting.” https://podcasts.chconline.org/episodes/ Podcast – Lisa Damour’s Podcast titled “Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting with Dr. Lisa Damour and Reena Ninan.” https://drlisadamour.com/resources/podcast/
Mrs. Ashley Giljum, MSW Middle School Counselor Grades 6-8 Email: agiljum@visitationacademy.org Website: www.visitationacademy.org Phone: (314) 625-9225
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